If you’ve ever admired the luminous, glowing quality of a classical painting, you’ve likely been seeing the effects of glazing. Glazing is a time-honored technique that allows artists to create depth, richness, and subtle shifts of color that simply can’t be achieved with opaque paint alone.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what glazing is, why it’s so effective, and how to start using it in both oil and acrylic painting.
What Is Glazing?
In painting, glazing means applying a thin, transparent or semi-transparent layer of paint over a completely dry layer of color. Because the glaze is see-through, the underlying color shows through, creating a layered optical effect.
This is different from mixing paint colors directly on your palette. Instead, glazing changes how light passes through the upper layer and bounces back from the colors underneath, creating depth and a glow that’s impossible to achieve with opaque paint alone.
Why Artists Use Glazing
Glazing has been a favorite tool of master painters for centuries, from Renaissance artists like Jan van Eyck to modern realist painters. Here’s why it’s so effective:
-
Depth and dimension: Multiple transparent layers give paintings a 3D-like quality.
-
Color adjustments: You can subtly shift hue, saturation, or warmth without repainting the entire area.
-
Smooth blending: Glazes help soften edges and transitions without muddying colors.
-
Luminous effects: Because light passes through the glaze before reflecting back to the viewer, colors can appear to glow from within.
The Science Behind Glazing
When light hits a glazed area, it passes through the transparent pigment particles, bounces off the opaque layers beneath, and travels back through the glaze before reaching the eye. This double passage of light creates the depth, vibrancy, and subtlety glazing is known for.
Glazing in Oil Painting
Oil paints are naturally suited for glazing because of their slow drying time and smooth blending qualities. Traditional oil glazes are made by mixing paint with a glazing medium: often a blend of linseed oil, stand oil, and a small amount of solvent.
Tips for oil glazing:
-
Only glaze over fully dried layers (following the “fat over lean” rule).
-
Use transparent pigments such as permanent alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, or burnt sienna.
-
Apply thinly with a soft brush for even coverage and control.
Glazing in Acrylic Painting
Acrylic paints dry quickly, so glazing requires a different approach. Acrylic artists mix paint with an acrylic glazing medium, which increases transparency and extends drying time without weakening the paint film. You can also use paint colors that are naturally transparent, which are typically noted on their packaging.
Tips for acrylic glazing:
-
Work quickly, as acrylics dry fast even with medium.
-
Apply several thin layers rather than one thick coat.
-
Test your glaze over different base colors before applying it to your artwork.
Common Glazing Mistakes to Avoid
-
Using opaque pigments that block light instead of allowing it to pass through.
-
Applying glazes too thickly, which can make them look muddy instead of luminous.
-
Skipping proper drying time - if the base layer isn’t fully dry, you’ll mix colors physically instead of layering them optically.
Final Thoughts
Glazing is one of the most powerful painting techniques for creating rich, layered, and luminous artwork. Whether you’re painting in oils or acrylics, this technique allows you to transform flat colors into glowing, dimensional passages that bring your work to life. The key is patience, transparency, and building color slowly...letting light do the work for you.
Keep Learning: More Resources for Artists
If you enjoyed this guide on glazing in oil and acrylic painting, you might also like:
- Are Expensive Art Supplies Actually Worth it?
- Acrylic Color Mixing Guide: Color Mixing Techniques for Acrylic Paints
-
How to Paint Flowers in Acrylic using Warm & Cool Tones
Download my FREE eBooks for Acrylic & Oil Painting
Want to dive deeper into professional painting techniques?
Download my free eBooks for both Acrylic and Oil Painting
-
Choose the right paints, brushes, and mediums for your style
-
Build luminous layers using techniques like glazing and scumbling
-
Avoid the most common mistakes that slow down your painting progress
📩 Click here to get your free eBook and start transforming your oil or acrylic paintings today.
Leave a comment